Fire at Veerabhadra Nagar workshop reduces 19 private buses to ashes; no casualties

Bengaluru: In one more incident that exposed the absence of fire safety, flames blazing through SV Coach Works on Monday gutted 19 private buses, including vehicles from other states.

Police reported no casualties at the incident at the half-acre enclosure housing at least 20 buses. The mishap is the latest in a series of fire accidents in two months.

An eyewitness said that flames began leaping as a worker carried out welding at 11.30 am. The 20 workers present tried dousing the blaze, but it became uncontainable.

Deputy director of fire fighting service and SDRF C Gurulingaiah told DH that his office received an emergency call at 11.54 am, following which seven vehicles were despatched to the spot, while three more followed later.

“Barely any safety measures were in place. Most of the materials inside the enclosure were highly combustible,” Gurulingaiah said. “Also, the place had only one entry and exit point.”

A senior fire department official, who spoke to DH on condition of anonymity, said establishments such as the one gutted do not bother to take No-Objection Certificates (NOCs). “They flout fire safety norms,” he added.

“Being a bus workshop, the place had highly combustible foam-based sheets and decorative materials that fed the flames,” the official said, adding that the loss from the fire could only be estimated after the owner shared details of the items inside the enclosure.

How it happened

A bus from Sri Kumar Travels, operating between Bengaluru and Honnavara, was brought to the workshop after letting out the passengers.

As a worker did a minor welding job on the vehicle, a spark hit the paint and polish box and triggered the blaze. From there, flames leaped through all the buses, the official explained.

An eyewitness told DH that the place belongs to one Srinivas, who has been operating it for 13 years. “Since the batteries were removed from the buses, they could not be moved out faster,” the eyewitness said, adding that the 20 workers escaped unhurt.

DyCM wants report

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy visited the spot, after which Reddy said the safety measures were poor.

“The owner should have been more careful,” he said. “His negligence is clearly visible. The fire force IG will be asked to inspect such establishments and take immediate action.”

Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said that the police and fire departments will be directed to come up with a joint report, on the basis of which further action will be taken.

Investment goes up in smoke

Katriguppe resident Bharath said that he bought two buses to start his travels, investing Rs 1.4 crore, and was renovating the vehicles with further investments. He was about to take the buses back in a few days from SV Coach, where they stood for five months. “The fire burnt down not just the buses, but also my dreams,” he said.